Centaurs[a] are creatures that have the upper body of a human and the lower body and legs of a horse.[1]. Centaurs originate from Greek mythology, but have had a continued cultural influence, including through Roman mythology, medieval depictions, and modern fantastic literature and media.
Centaurs from Greek mythology
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- Abas, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the Lapiths and fled.[3]
- Agrius, repelled by Heracles in a fight.[4]
- Amphion, tried to plunder Pholus of his wine and was killed by Heracles.[5]
- Amycus, son of Ophion. He attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the Lapiths. Amycus was killed by Pelates.[6]
- Anchius, repelled by Heracles when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus.[4]
- Antimachus, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Caeneus.[7]
- Aphareus, killed by Theseus in the fight at Pirithous' wedding.[8]
- Aphidas, killed by Phorbas in the fight at Pirithous' wedding.[9]
- Arctus, attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the Lapiths.[10]
- Areos, attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the Lapiths.[11]
- Argius, killed by Heracles when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus.[5]
- Asbolus, an augur who had attempted in vain to dissuade his friends from engaging in battle against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding.[12]
- Bienor, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Theseus.[13]
- Bromus, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Caeneus.[14]
- Chiron, the son of Cronus and Philyra.
- Chromis, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Pirithous.[15]
- Chthonius, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Nestor.[16]
- Clanis, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Peleus.[17]
- Crenaeus, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Dryas.[11]
- Cyllarus, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths. Killed by a javelin thrown from an unknown hand. He was married to Hylonome.[18]
- Daphnis, tried to plunder Pholus of his wine and was killed by Heracles.[5]
- Demoleon, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Peleus.[19]
- Dictys, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Pirithous.[20]
- Dorylas, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Peleus.[21]
- Doupon, tried to plunder Pholus of his wine and was killed by Heracles.[5]
- Dryalus, son of Peuceus who attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the Lapiths.[6]
- Echeclus, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Ampyx.[22]
- Elatus, tried to plunder Pholus of his wine. Heracles shot an arrow at him, which, passing through his arm, stuck in the knee of Chiron.[4]
- Elymus, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Caeneus.[14]
- Eurynomus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Dryas.[11]
- Eurytion, acted in an insulting manner towards Hippolyte when she was being joined in marriage to Azan in the house of Pirithous. He was killed by Heracles.[23]
- Eurytus, the wildest of the wild Centaurs. He started the fight at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Theseus.[24]
- Gryneus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Exadius.[25]
- Helops, attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the Lapiths. While fleeing from Pirithous, he fell from a precipice into the top of a tree and impaled his body.[20]
- Hippasus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Theseus.[26]
- Hippotion, another Centaur, killed by Heracles when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus.[5]
- Hodites, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Mopsus.[27]
- Homadus, tried to plunder Pholus of his wine. Some time after he attempted to rape Alcyone, a granddaughter of Perseus. He got killed in Arcadia.[5]
- Hylaeus, tried to rape Atalanta but was shot by her (same thing happened to Rhoecus).[28][29]
- Hylaeus, killed by Heracles under unknown circumstances.[30]
- Hylaeus, followed Dionysus in his Indian campaign and was killed by Orontes, an Indian General.[31]
- Hyles, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought in the battle against the Lapiths and was killed by Peleus.[21]
- Hylonome, attended Pirithous' wedding together with her lover Cyllarus. Having seen the latter dead, she threw herself upon the spear which had killed him.[32]
- Imbreus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Dryas.[11]
- Iphinous, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Peleus.[21]
- Isoples, killed by Heracles when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus.[5]
- Latreus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Caeneus.[33]
- Lycabas, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the Lapiths and fled.[34]
- Lycidas, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Dryas.[11]
- Lycopes, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Theseus.[35]
- Lycus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding was killed by Pirithous.[36]
- Medon, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the Lapiths and fled.[34]
- Melanchaetes, killed by Heracles when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus.[5]
- Melaneus, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the Lapiths and fled.[3]
- Mermerus, wounded by the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and fled.[37]
- Mimas, attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the Lapiths.[6]
- Monychus, attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the Lapiths. He was conquered by Nestor, mounted on his unwilling back.[38]
- Nedymnus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding. Killed by Theseus.[35]
- Nessus, fled during the fight with the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding. Later he attempted to rape Deianira and before dying gave her a charm which resulted in the death of Heracles. He was killed by the latter.[39]
- Ophion, father of Amycus.[6]
- Oreius, killed by Heracles when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus.[40]
- Orneus, attended Pirithous' wedding fought against the Lapiths and fled.[41]
- Perimedes, son of Peuceus and attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the Lapiths.[6]
- Petraeus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Pirithous.[42]
- Peuceus, father of Perimedes and Dryalus.[6]
- Phaecomes, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Nestor.[43]
- Phlegraeus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Peleus.[21]
- Pholus
- Phrixus, killed by Heracles when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus.[5]
- Pisenor, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the Lapiths and fled.[44]
- Pylenor, having been wounded by Heracles washed himself in the river Anigrus, thus providing the river with a peculiar odor.[45]
- Pyracmus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Caeneus.[14]
- Pyraethus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Periphas.[22]
- Rhoecus, He also tried to rape Atalanta and was killed by her.[28]
- Rhoetus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Dryas.[46]
- Ripheus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Theseus.[47]
- Styphelus, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Caeneus.[14]
- Teleboas, fought against the Lapiths at Pirithous' wedding and was killed by Nestor.[16]
- Thaumas, attended Pirithous' wedding, fought against the Lapiths and fled.[44]
- Thereus, this Centaur used to catch bears and carry them home alive and struggling. Attended Pirithous' wedding and fought in the battle against the Lapiths. Killed by Theseus.[48]
- Thereus, killed by Heracles when he tried to steal the wine of Pholus.[49]
- Ureus, attended Pirithous' wedding and fought against the Lapiths.[50]
References
Notes
- /ˈsɛntɔːr, ˈsɛntɑːr/ SEN-tor, SEN-tar; Ancient Greek: κένταυρος, romanized: kéntauros; Latin: centaurus.
Citations
- "Definition of centaur by Merriam-Webster". merriam-webster.com. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 50.8.40.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.306
- Apollodorus, 2.5.4
- Diodorus Siculus, 4.12.7
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.245
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.495
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.341
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.317 ff.
- Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 186
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.310
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.308; Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 185
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.345 ff.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.459
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.333
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.441
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.378; Valerius Flaccus, 1.146
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.393 ff.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.356 ff.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.334 ff.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.378
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.450
- Apollodorus, 2.5.4; Diodorus Siculus, 4.33.1; Homer, Odyssey 295 ff.; Hyginus, Fabulae 33
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.220 &12.235 ff.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.258 ff.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.352; Valerius Flaccus, 1.148
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.456
- Apollodorus, 3.9.2
- Propertius, Elegies 1.1
- Virgil, Aeneid 8.294
- Nonnus, Dionysiaca 17.200
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.405 ff.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.463 ff.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.302
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.350
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.332
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.305
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.499 ff.; Valerius Flaccus, 1.146
- Apollodorus, 2.5.4, 2.7.6; Diodorus Siculus, 4.36.3; Hyginus, Fabulae 31; Sophocles, Trachiniae 500 ff.; Strabo, 10.2.5; Valerius Flaccus, 1.147
- Diodorus Siculus, 4.12.3; Pausanias, 3.18.16
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.302; Pausanias, 3.18.16
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.327
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.431 ff.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.303
- Pausanias, 5.5.10
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.271 & 12.300; Valerius Flaccus, 3.65
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 12.352
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 353
- Diodorus Siculus, 4.12.7; Ovid, Metamorphoses 353
- Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 186
Sources
- Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
- Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History translated by Charles Henry Oldfather. Twelve volumes. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd. 1989. Vol. 3. Books 4.59–8. Online version at Bill Thayer's Web Site
- Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica. Vol 1-2. Immanel Bekker. Ludwig Dindorf. Friedrich Vogel. in aedibus B. G. Teubneri. Leipzig. 1888–1890. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Gaius Julius Hyginus, Fabulae from The Myths of Hyginus translated and edited by Mary Grant. University of Kansas Publications in Humanistic Studies. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica translated by Mozley, J H. Loeb Classical Library Volume 286. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1928. Online version at theio.com.
- Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Argonauticon. Otto Kramer. Leipzig. Teubner. 1913. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Hesiod, Shield of Heracles from The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
- Homer, The Odyssey with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1919. ISBN 978-0674995611. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
- Kaleta, Marcin Konrad, "Centaurs", in The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters, pp. 75–77, edited by Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, Farnham and Burlington, Ashgate, 1988. ISBN 9781409425625. doi:10.4324/9781315612690.
- Leuker, Tobias, "Centaurs", in Brill's New Pauly – Supplements. Volume 4: The Reception of Myth and Mythology, edited by Maria Moog-Grünewald, Brill, 2010. ISBN 978-90-04-18330-8.
- Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus, Lives with an English Translation by Bernadotte Perrin. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. London. William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. 1. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.
- Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca translated by William Henry Denham Rouse (1863–1950), from the Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, 1940. Online version at the Topos Text Project.
- Nonnus of Panopolis, Dionysiaca. 3 Vols. W.H.D. Rouse. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1940–1942. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. ISBN 0-674-99328-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library
- Pausanias, Graeciae Descriptio. 3 vols. Leipzig, Teubner. 1903. Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Publius Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoses translated by Brookes More (1859–1942). Boston, Cornhill Publishing Co. 1922. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Publius Ovidius Naso, Metamorphoses. Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
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- Publius Vergilius Maro, Bucolics, Aeneid, and Georgics. J. B. Greenough. Boston. Ginn & Co. 1900. Latin text available at the Perseus Digital Library.
- Sextus Propertius, Elegies from Charm. Vincent Katz. trans. Los Angeles. Sun & Moon Press. 1995. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Latin text available at the same website.